Disease Specific Specimen Selection and Collection
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Abortion, Infectious Bovine | Placenta with cotyledons. Uterine discharge on swab. Fresh whole fetus. Fetal stomach contents. Fetal lung and liver. |
Brucella abortus Campylobacter species |
Abortion, Mycotic | Placenta with cotyledons. Fetal stomach content. |
Aspergillus species Mortierella wolfii |
Actinobacillosis Wooden Tongue |
Pus from abscess. | Actinobacillus lignieresii |
Arcanobacterium Infection | Fresh material from excised abscess on swab or in syringe. | Arcanobacterium pyogenes Corynebacterium spp. |
Actinomycosis, Bovine Lumpy Jaw |
Fresh material from excised abscess on swab or in syringe. | Actinomyces bovis |
Actinomycosis, Canine | Biopsy or fresh material Tracheal wash Thoracocentesis |
Actinomyces viscosus |
Anaerobic Bacteria | Biopsies & exudates in sterile syringe with plugged needle. Anaerobic transport swab. |
Bacteriodes species Fusobacterium spp. Peptococcus sp. Peptostreptococcus sp. Eubacterium sp. Propionibbacterium sp. |
Anthrax | Alert Lab! Blood soaked umbilical tape or cotton swabs soaked in extruded blood or blood taken from a superficial ear vein in acute or paracute cases. In swine, send lymph nodes. | Bacillus anthracis |
Arthritis | Entire joint in smaller animals. Joint swabs in transport media or joint fluid in sterile syringe. | Streptococcus Arcanobacterium pyogenes Haemophilus Histophilus Erysipelothrix Staphylococcus Mycoplasma |
Aspergillosis, Avian | Lung and air sacs. Tracheal wash. |
Aspergillus fumigatus Aspergillus spp. |
Atrophic Rhinitis of Swine | Clean external nares with alcohol. Swab 1/2 distance into cavity. Entire nose if animal is sacrificed. |
Bordetella bronchiseptica Pasteurella multocida |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Bacillary hemoglobinuria Redwater | Portion of liver with infarct. | Clostridium haemolyticum |
Bacterial Balanoposthitis and Vulvitis | Pus collected from several animals on swabs and placed in transport media. | Corynebacterium renale C. pilosum |
Bacteriuria | Urine or swab – prefer urine sample. | Escherichia coli Proteus Other coliforms Streptococcus spp. Many Gram + and Gram - bacteria |
Big Head | Section of tissue with lesion. | Clostridium novyi Clostridium sordelli Clostridium chauvoei (rare) |
Black Disease Infectious Necrotic Hepatitis |
Section of liver with necrotic lesion | Clostridium novyi type B |
Blackleg | Section of muscle with lesion. | Clostridium chauvoei Clostridium novyi Clostridium septicum |
Blastomycosis | Transtracheal wash, biopsy or abscess contents from skin. | Blastomyces dermatitidis |
Botulism | Food suspected of containing toxin. Section of fresh intestine, tied off. Large section of liver. |
Clostridium botulinum |
Brucellosis, Bovine Bang's Disease |
Placenta & aborted fetus. Lung, Liver, Kidney of fetus. Milk. Semen and testes. |
Brucella abortus |
Brucellosis, Canine | Females: fetus (lung, liver), placenta & vaginal swabs. Males: semen, testes, epididymis, prostatic fluid. |
Brucella canis |
Brucellosis, Caprine | Placenta & fetus. | Brucella melitensis |
Brucellosis, Ovine Ovine Epididymitis |
Aseptically collected semen Fetal cotyledons & fetus. Testicle & epididymis. |
Brucella ovis |
Brucellosis, Porcine | Fetus, fetal stomach contents, testicles. | Brucella suis |
Bursitis | Entire joint in smaller animals. Joint swabs in transport media. Joint fluid. |
Streptococcus Corynebacterium Haemophilus Mycoplasma |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Campylobacteriosis, Bovine Genital |
Fetus, entire. Cervical mucous. Preputial washing. Semen sample. |
Campylobacter fetus ssp. venerealis |
Campylobacteriosis, Canine Intestinal |
Fresh rectal / fecal swabs in transport media. | Campylobacter jejuni |
Campylobacteriosis, Feline | Fresh rectal / fecal swabs in transport media. | Campylobacter jejuni |
Campylobacteriosis, Ovine Genital (OGS) |
Fresh whole fetus & fetal stomach contents. | Campylobacter fetus ssp. fetus |
Candidiasis Candidosis Moniliasis Thrush |
Deep scraping of affected area below the pseudomembrane or other extraneous material. | Candidia albicans Candidia spp. |
Canine Respiratory Disease | Transtracheal wash. Transthoracic aspirate. Throat swab. Lung tissue. |
Bordetella species Pasteurella multocida Pasteurella spp. Pseudomonas spp. Coliforms |
Circling Disease | Brain stem | Listeria spp. |
Coccidioidomycosis | Exudate of nodules. Biopsies of liver, spleen and lymph nodes. Tissues. Transthoracic aspirate. |
Coccidioides imitis |
Colibacillosis Bovine and Porcine |
Tied off intestine and content. Request pilus antigen testing. |
Escherichia coli (K88, K99, 987P) |
Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) | Swabs from cervix, urethra & clitoral fossa of mare. Swabs from urethral fossa & penile sheath of male. Notify Laboratory Before Collecting Samples. Samples will be sent to certified lab out of state, and must meet certain specifications. |
Taylorella equigenitalis |
Contagious Foot Rot of Sheep Foot Rot of Sheep Infectious Foot Rot of Sheep Ovine Digital Dermatitis |
Swab from center of lesion after trimming hoof. Requires anaerobic transport media. |
Dichlobacter nodosus |
Contagious Pleuropneumonia of Swine | Portion of lung. | Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae |
Coryza (Turkey) Rhinotracheitis (Chickens) |
Trachea Lung |
Bordetella avium |
Cryptococcosis | Nasal passage material in paranasal form. Material from granulomatous lesions in subcutaneous form. Cerebrospinal fluid. Milk in cryptococcal mastitis. Portions of affected tissues. |
Cryptococcus neoformans |
Cystitis | Fresh urine. | Escherichia coli Proteus spp. Coliforms Streptococcus spp. |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Dermatitis | Clean surface to remove dirt. Swab of lesions in transport media. Sections of skin. Plucked hair. |
Staphylococcus hyicus, aureus, intermedius Pseudomonas spp. Streptococcus spp. Fungi (Dermatophytes) |
Dermatomycosis | Plucked hair and skin scrapings sent dry in envelope. Sections of skin. | Microsporum spp. Trichophyton spp. |
Dermatophilosis (Streptothricosis) |
Scabs, crust & plucked hair. Skin biopsy after scab removal. |
Dermatophilus congolensis |
Diphtheria, Calf | Anaerobic swab of ulcers in trachea. Anaerobic swab of diphtheric membrane. |
Fusobacterium necrophorum |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Fistulas Withers | Fresh material from opened abscess or lymph node. Swab from excised abscess. |
Brucella abortus Actinomyces bovis |
Foot abscess of Sheep | Fresh pus. Anaerobic swabs if possible. |
Arcanobacterium pyogenes Fusobacterium necrophorum Bacteriodes spp. |
Foot Rot of Cattle Interdigital Necrobacillosis |
Fresh pus. Anaerobic swabs if possible. |
Fusobacterium necrophorum |
Fowl Cholera Avian Cholera |
Pus from joints and other tissues. Lung Liver, intestine. Bone marrow. |
Pasteurella multocida |
Fowl Typhoid | Egg and / or egg products. Lung, liver, spleen, kidney, intestine. |
Salmonella gallinarium Salmonella spp. |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Gangrenous Mastitis | Usually mammary tissue. Anaerobic swab from affected quarter. |
Clostridium perfringens Clostridia spp. |
Gas Gangrene | Affected Tissue | Clostridium perfringens |
Geotrichosis | Rarely diagnosed in living anima. Ear swab in canine. Milk sample in cattle. Tissue & scraping from lesions in dead animals. |
Geotrichium candidium |
Glanders |
Notify Lab in Advance!
Nasal discharge swab. Swab of cutaneous lesion. Lung & lymph node. Nodules. Pus from Ulcers. |
Burkholderia mallei |
Glasser's Disease | Preferably a live, sick pig. Swabs for culture from various serous membranes and meninges. |
Haemophilus parasuis |
Gutteral Pouch Infection | Nasal discharge swab, pus, biopsy of lesion for aerobic & anaerobic culture. | Streptococcus spp. Pasteurella spp. Fusobacterium spp. Bacteroides spp. Other anaerobic bacteria Fungal species |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Haemophilus (Histophilus) Infection of Cattle | Brain, lung, joints or joint fluid. | Histophilus somni |
Hepatitis, Infectious Necrotic Black Disease | Portion of necrotic liver lesion. | Clostridium novyii |
Histoplasmosis | Urine sediment, excised lymph nodes or biopsy, liver biopsy, scrapings from ulcer base, bone marrow aspirate or peripheral blood buffy coat. Necropsy: Lung, liver, spleen, intestine, skin & any granulomas. |
Histoplasma capsulatum |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Icterohemoglobinuria | Liver with lesions. | Clostridium haemolyticum |
Infectious hemoglobinuria | Liver with lesions. | Clostridium haemolyticum |
Infectious necrotic hepatitis | Liver with lesions. | Clostridium novyii type B |
Infertility | Reproductive tract swabs. Semen, vaginal mucous. Preputial washings. |
Brucella abortus Brucella canis Brucella spp. Campylobacter spp. Streptococcus spp. Many other bacteria |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Kennel Cough | Transtracheal wash Transthoracic aspirate Throat swab Lung tissue |
Bordetella bronchiseptica |
Keratoconjunctivitis Infectious Bovine Pinkeye Infectious Ophthalmia Infectious keratitis |
Conjunctival swabs in transport media. | Moraxella bovis |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Lamb dysentery | 20-30 ml of ileal content in vial or tied off intestine. Freeze & transport rapidly to laboratory. |
Clostridium perfringens |
Laryngotracheitis, Infectious Canine Kennel Cough Tracheobronchitis |
Nasal & tracheal swabs. Tracheal wash. |
Bordetella bronchiseptica Pasteurella multocida Other bacteria |
Leptospirosis | Can be demonstrated in fetal pericardial fluids. Sometimes seen in urine. Darkfield performed, not cultured. |
Leptospira spp. |
Listeriosis Circling Disease Listerellosis |
Neural form: Brain stem. Visceral form: Liver. Abortion form: Fetus & placenta. |
Listeria monocytogenes |
Liver Abscesses, Bovine Bovine Hepatic Necrobacillosis |
Culture rarely attempted. Liver with visible abscesses. |
Fusobacterium necrophorum |
Lumpy Jaw | Fresh material from excised abscess on swab or in syringe. | Arcanobacterium pyogenes Actinomyces bovis |
Lymphadenitis, Caseous Pseudotuberculosis | Fresh pus on swabs from several lesions. Abscess tissue & lymph node. |
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis |
Lymphadenitis, Streptoccal Jowl Abscesses Cervical Lymphadenitis of Swine Cervical Abscesses of Swine |
Fresh pus from an excised lymph node. | Streptococcus species |
Lymphangitis, Ulcerative | Pus on swab from excised nodule. | Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Malignant Edema | Dead animal: Muscle Live animal: Fluid or material from lesion in a syringe. |
Clostridium septicum |
Mastitis | Aseptically collected milk samples in sterile screw top containers. | Staphlococcus spp. Streptococcus spp. Coliforms Mycoplasma spp. Many other bacteria |
Meningitis | Cerebral spinal fluid. Brain. Meningeal Swab. |
Streptococcus spp. Streptococcus suis Haemophilus somnus Cryptococcus neoformans Listeria monocytogenes |
Mycoplasma Infections | Depends upon disease and animal species. See section on Mycoplasma. |
Mycoplasma spp. |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Nasal Aspergillosis Canine Nasal Aspergillosis |
Swabs from nasal cavity & curretted material from lesion. | Aspergillus species |
Naval Ill Neonatal Septicemia |
Depends upon duration of infection. Affected tissue or joint. |
Arcanobacterium pyogenes Streptococcus spp. Corynebacterium spp. |
Necrobacillosis of the liver | Affected liver tissue. | Fusobacterium necrophorum |
Neonatal diarrhea | See Enteric Disease | Escherichia coli |
Nocardiosis | Fresh pus & exudate from lesion. Excision may be necessary. Thoracocentesis or tracheal wash. Milk sample from affected quarter. |
Nocardia asteroids |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Paratuberculosis Johne's Disease |
See Johne's Disease | Mycobacterium paratuberculosis |
Pasteurellosis Bovine Pneumonic Shipping Fever Bovine Respiratory Disease |
Nasal swab in Transport media. Transtracheal washings. Portion of affected lung. |
Pasteurella multocida Mannheimia haemolytica Histophilus somni Arcanobacterium pyogenes |
Pasteurellosis, Ovine Pneumonic Enzootic Pneumonia of Sheep |
Affected section of lung. | Mannheimia haemolytica Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae |
Pinkeye | Eye swab Eyeball |
Moraxella bovis |
Plague |
Notify Lab Before Sending Samples
Exudate from abscess Swollen lymph node |
Yersinia pestis |
Pneumonia, Swine Enzootic Virus Pneumonia of Pigs Mycoplasma Pneumonia of Swine VPP |
Portions of affected lung. Sick or recently dead pigs. |
Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae |
Polyarthritis, Chlamydial Transmissible Serositis |
Joints & joint fluids. | Chlamydia psittaci |
Psittacosis | See Ornithosis | Chlamydia psittaci |
Proliferative ileitis | Portions of affected intestine including spiral colon & ileum. | Lawsonia intercellularis |
Poll evil | Fresh material from newly opened abscess. Fresh material from excised abscess. |
Brucella abortus Arcanobacterium pyogenes |
Pulpy kidney disease | Affected kidney tissue. | Clostridium perfringens |
Pyelonephritis, Bovine | Midstream sample of urine. Portion of affected kidney, ureter, bladder & urethra. |
Corynebacterium renale |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Rhodoccal Pneumonia of Foals | Cervical swab of mare. Transtracheal aspirate. Nasal discharge swab. Lung and lymph nodes with lesions. |
Rhodococcus equi |
Ringworm Dermatomycoses Dermatitis, fungal |
Plucked hair and skin scrapings sent in dry envelope. | Trichophyton spp. Microsporum spp. |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Salmonellosis | Rectally collected feces. Dead animal: Intestine, liver, spleen, lung & lymph nodes. |
Salmonella serovars |
Shipping Fever | Lung | Pasteurella multocida Histophilus somni Mannheimia haemolytica Arcanobacterium pyogenes |
Sleepy Foal Disease | Brain | Actinobacillus equuli |
Snuffles | Nasal swab | Pasteurella multocida Bordetella bronchiseptica |
Sporothrichosis | Aseptically collected pus from unopened lesion. Abscess aspirate Lymph node Wound swab |
Sporotrichum schenckii |
Strangles | Fresh pus taken on a swab from an excised abscess. | Streptococcus equi |
Streptothricosis Dermatophilosis |
Scabs & hair. | Dermatophilus congolensis |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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TEME Infectious Thromboembolic Meningoencephalitis |
Brain | Histophilus somni |
Tetanus | Rarely needs laboratory confirmation. Wound tissue collected & maintained in anaerobic condition. Anaerobic transport swab. |
Clostridium tetani |
Tuberculosis | Affected tissue. | Mycobacterium spp. |
Tuberculosis, Bovine | Mesenteric lymph nodes in calves. Adults: Lungs and pulmonary lymph nodes. |
Mycobacterium bovis |
Tularemia Rabbit Fever |
Notify Lab!
Liver, lung, kidney, spleen & lymph nodes with lesions. |
Francisella tularensis |
Tyzzer's Disease | Unable to culture. Culturing tissues can rule out other infections such as Salmonellosis, Sleepy Foal Disease, and Rhodoccus |
Clostridium piliformis |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Vibriosis | Fetal fluids for culture. Preputial washing or cervical mucous. |
Campylobacter fetus |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Wooden Tongue | Pus from fresh, non-discharging abscess | Actinomyces bovis Actinobacillus ligniersii |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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Yersinia enterocoliticia Infection | Feces Portions of tissue with necrotic & caseous lesions |
Yersinia enterocoliticia |
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infection Pseudotuberculosis |
Feces Portions of tissue with necrotic & caseous lesions |
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis |
Disease Suspected/Condition | Tissue to submit | Causative Agent or Agents Associated With the Condition |
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